Health 101: Genetic Testing Before & During Pregnancy

Find out what genetic testing is, and whether you and your partner should get tested before you get pregnant.

By Lauren Gelman

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What is genetic testing (carrier screening)?

Genetic testing is when a blood test is given to prospective or expecting parents to look for abnormal genes that can lead to certain diseases in their baby. Most genetic diseases are known as "recessive disorders," which means that each parent needs to pass along an affected gene to the baby in order for the child to be affected. In other words, if you screen positive for a genetic abnormality but your partner does not, your child will not inherit the condition. And even if you both screen positive, there's only a 25 percent chance your baby will have the disease.

You can get a carrier screening at your ob-gyn's office with a single blood test; you typically receive the results in two weeks. Most often, a woman is tested first (only because you're more likely to see your doctor regularly if you're in trying-to-conceive mode) and if those results don't show a problem gene, her partner usually doesn't need to be tested.

Next: When should you get genetic testing?

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